The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-11-06

u glance ol CONTRADICTION oil cannot say
what beside. But little Carl moved toward
me noiselessly--he was the quietest child
! ever knew--and looking gravely into my
face with his steady gaze, his eyes so like
his mothers, said: But we shall soon
die. Mamma and shall die together"
! was spared the pain of trying to dis
pei this fancy by the return of the anxious
ly watched-for party. Mr.. Cunningham was
the first TO enter the salon. | could not
but remark his palencss, even through the
glow that mountaineering always produces.
lie went at once to his wife, who met him
with glad smile. He then took little
Carl in his arms in silence. lie was usu-
ally chatty, and oven humorous, so that
this silence struck me as very odd.
I'VE are so thankful you have returned, F"
| said. ave have been so anxious"
And with reason, I'll promise YOU"
broke in Mrs Gen. Bruce, who had en-
tered close on Mr.. Coninghain's heels, ac-
companied by my niece and others.
eve have had such an escape; nothing
shall ever tempt me on a mountain again,
rest assured, And then, suddenly adj
dressing Elsa, she said: GLOW ever did
you get back, Mrs. Coningham? We were
all ncarlyas frozen US the glacier, at the
fright you gave us you see, we understand
you never went in for climbing. And
what ever,guide did you gct2 We had to
put up with hcveriest impostorsf for guides
| do believe il was their first expedition
But, however, you saved all our lives, for,
by changing our course to reach you, we
discovered that what we were standing on
was one Of those awful cornices, and il gave
way and fell crushing down the precipicc
the very instant the last OF MS had left IT,
We all stood spccchlcss, staring ut the gulf
that so nearly swallowed us upland then
you had disappeared. Mr.. Cunningham de-
clarcd you were safe, though how he knew
it | can't imagine" Mrs. Gen. Bruce
here stopped for breath and looked on us
all. Elsa had become very pale.
81 can assure you" ! began, that Mrs
Cunningham has never left the hotel"
That is impossible !" cried my niece.
eve all saw her-cvery one OF u.s. and
she looked for the others TO confirm her
words, which they did--in dogmatic
manner bordering on violence.
''rhcrc couldn' possibly be another Just
like Mrs. Cunningham" broke in Mrs
Bruce once more, "and presently she will
own all about II. In the meantime we
ought every one OF us 10 thank her on our
knees. To think, she cried with shud-
der, "where We should all he now but for
hcr!"
Every one has double, so il is said, ="
Mr. Cunningham remarked in hollow
voice, and with the weakest attempt ut u
smile ! ever saw.
The party dispersed, puzzled and little
piqucd, despite their reason for gratitude.
They were asked then to disbclievc their
own eyes, their collective eyes. II was too
much. This was what was plainly visible
ON every face as they Withdrew. As Mrs.
Gen Bruce was departing last OF all, and Il
trifc more "huflily" than the others,
said: "lou should allow MIR. Cunningham
to have an opinion, even il you think my
word unworthy Of belicf-he should know
his own wife.
"And he did seem 10 know hcr-at the
time, she made answer Us she went.
As ! went out | heard Carl's childish
treble saying these words:
"My father Is she to know the secret,
too?"'
| made my way to the apartment
shared with my niece. | found her at the
door Of my room in conversation with Mrs
Bruce.
"What should you conclude II you saw
living person in u place where she wa
not-where she could not be?' Rhodl
81 should conclude that that person wa,
going 10 die" Mrs. Gen. Bruce answered
promptly.
The words fell like n knell upon my
heart. Carl's words, "But we shall sOor
dic-mamma and | shall die together, y
Elsa's strange sleep, her husbands unu'
sual emotion, all filled my mind with O
tumut Of conflicting conjecture.
The following evening. table d'hote he
ing over, several Of us, including the Con
inghams, went outside the hotel, watching
the sun in his royal descent behind th,
mountain mngc. ! never remember !
more beautiful sunset, except one, and Il
may be that the clasp Of hand ,~w colo
made all the difference. How boldly ia,
Maitcrhon stood out against the rosy gold
of the sky How lovingly the soft flush %
light fingered about the submits, ~ !
10th TO leave ~
A group Of guides were also watchin,
the sunset, aud discussing the weather IL
relation TO climbing.
Suddenly one oi them exclaimed IL
German: '"Ilcugott. but that is the lad,
We saw Yesterday Ill alone on the mOnnt
AIM" and he plainly indicated Elsa.
Ms. Gen. Bruce exchanged meaning
/ glance with the gentleman next her
/ The COninghams rc-entorcd the hotel
/ I went In, too, and sat alone in the lie
serted dining.room. Presently Mr.. Con
ingham Joined me. | saw from his man
ncr that he had something important &
communicate. ! motiOned him Ia o sea
near me-
"MiSs Thompson" lac began, hcsiiaiinp
| ~, have favor to ask OF you, and II /
! should not be in your power la grant d, q
least I can rely upon YOU 10 pardon ti
liberty | take. seeing IL h for Elsl's sake.
hastcncd 10 assure him that nothin
could give me more pleasure than to be
use 10 Elsa.
"But my proposal will strike YOU q
odd, he went on. I'VE have known cac
other M short time
| | begged him Ia consider me an ol
friend, and NJ once 10 tell me IN what va
could serve him.
cam right in surprising that YOU haN
no ties that Is, no tics Ia keep you IN on
place more than another hc asked.
"Quite right ! answered, with rig
| could not suppress. "My niece viii u
returning home, then shall probably =
10 Paris at least, shall continue M
wandcrngs. have made no plans
Then, Miss Thompson, y bccom,
easier 10 make my request VIII you n
turn TO England and remain with us
, our guest at Cunningham Hall for ns long
YOU do no, find II too dull ior your
| did not answer at fnsi, being lille
| with SURPRISE ~ lac went on:
/ ELLA has become ~ much attached
you she cannot bear the thought Of q sc
= aration."
, At this point Elsa herself appeared ~
/ added her own cntcaties Ia those Oi III
husband In her pretty broken Englis
1 | What could do Tut consent2